Jereme is the author of the excellent, Make Mead Like a Viking, recently released by Chelsea Green Publishing, and a regular contributor to Earthineer.com. He joins me today to discuss how his background as a homesteader and an interest in mead and vikings lead to the focus of this book. Along the way we touch on favorite styles, how to get started, and developing your own mead making rituals and traditions.

You will find more about him and his work at Jereme-Zimmerman.com, and at Earthineer.com. His book,Make Mead Like a Viking, is available through Chelsea Green Publishing, and retails for $24.95. Pick up a copy directly from Jereme or Chelsea Green, or order your own through your favorite independent bookseller today. Links to all those resources, and more, in the show notes.

As I get into during the interview, I like Jereme’s book. A lot. On the bookshelf behind my desk are over a dozen books on fermentation and alcohol, including those by Papazian, Schramm, and Buhner, and Make Mead Like a Viking fits well among them. Light-hearted and an easy read, it blends ancient myth with modern techniques, while keeping things wild and still providing all the information you need to get started.

If you’re someone new to the world of mead, or home brewing in general, start with this book, as it is as unintimidating and welcoming as a book on fermentation can come. If you’ve been doing this for a while and read many books on making your own mead, wine, beer, or spirits, on a scale from Charlie Papazian’s The New Complete Joy of Homebrewingand Stephen Harrod Buhner’s Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers,Jereme Zimmerman’s Make Mead Like a Viking rests comfortably in the middle.

From here, next Monday, December 14, a short episode with Ethan Hughes discussing “What about Christmas?” and how we can transform our holiday into one of new traditions. After that, on Thursday, December 17, is the last interview of the year, when Taj Scicluna, The Perma Pixie, joins me to have a conversation about the general state of permaculture.

Until the next time, spend each day taking care of earth, yourself, and each other.